Detachable straw

ABSTRACT

A straw has a tubular body, at least one connection tab, and an engagement assembly. The tubular body has a thickness, a through hole, and a cutout. The through hole is defined through the tubular body and has two openings defined respectively in two ends of the tubular body. The cutout is formed longitudinally in the tubular body to form two longitudinal surfaces on the tubular body respectively at two sides of the cutout. The at least one connection tab is formed on the tubular body and extends longitudinally along the tubular body. Each one of the at least one connection tab has a thickness smaller than the thickness of the tubular body. The engagement assembly is formed on the longitudinal surfaces on the tubular body to connect the longitudinal surfaces of the tubular body together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a straw, and more particularly to a detachable straw that can be detached easily for cleaning.

2. Description of Related Art

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, a conventional straw 60 comprises an engagement block 61 and an engagement recess 63. The engagement block 61 is formed on a longitudinal surface of the straw 60 and extends longitudinally along the straw 60. The engagement recess 63 is defined in another longitudinal surface of the straws and is engaged detachably with the engagement block 61.

To clean the inner surface of the straw 60, the engagement block 61 and the engagement recess 63 are disengaged from each other, and the straw 60 is expanded to allow the inner surface of the straw 60 to be cleaned.

However, when the straw 60 is expanded, the straw 60 will rebound and cause the engagement block 61 and the engagement recess 63 to move toward each other due to the resilience of the straw 60. Therefore, to keep the straw 60 at the expanded condition is laborious, so to clean the conventional detachable straw 60 is inconvenient.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a detachable straw to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a detachable straw that is easily kept at an expanded condition and is convenient to be cleaned.

The straw has a tubular body, at least one connection tab, and an engagement assembly. The tubular body has a thickness, a through hole, and a cutout. The through hole is defined through the tubular body and has two openings defined respectively in two ends of the tubular body. The cutout is formed longitudinally in the tubular body to form two longitudinal surfaces on the tubular body respectively at two sides of the cutout. The at least one connection tab is formed on the tubular body and extends longitudinally along the tubular body. Each one of the at least one connection tab has a thickness smaller than the thickness of the tubular body. The engagement assembly is formed on the longitudinal surfaces on the tubular body to connect the longitudinal surfaces of the tubular body together.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a detachable straw in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional end view of the straw in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another enlarged cross sectional end view of the straw in FIG. 1 in a closed condition;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the straw in FIG. 1 in a closed condition;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional end view of a second embodiment of a detachable straw in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional end view of a third embodiment of a detachable straw in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional detachable straw; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional end view of the straw in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, a detachable straw in accordance with the present invention comprises a tubular body 10, at least one connection tab 20 and an engagement assembly 40.

The tubular body 10 has two ends, a thickness, a through hole 11, and a cutout 30. The through hole 11 is defined through the tubular body 10 and has two openings defined respectively in two ends of the tubular body 10. The cutout 30 is formed longitudinally in the tubular body 10 to form two longitudinal surfaces 31 on the tubular body 10 respectively at two sides of the cutout 30.

With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the at least one connection tab 20 is formed on the tubular body 10, extends longitudinally along the tubular body 10, and has a thickness smaller than the thickness of the tubular body 10. In the first embodiment, the through hole 11 is defined axially through the tubular body 10. At least one outer recess 13 is formed longitudinally in an outer surface of the tubular body 10 to form the at least one connection tab 20 respectively. Each outer recess 13 has a width of 1 millimeter (mm) to 3 mm and is trapezoidal or rectangular in shape. Preferably, each outer recess 13 is trapezoidal in shape.

Alternatively, the tubular body 10 has at least one inner recess 15 defined in an inner surface of the through hole 11 to form the at least one connection tab 20 respectively. Each inner recess 15 has a width of 1 millimeter (mm) to 3 mm and is trapezoidal or rectangular in shape. Preferably, each inner recess 15 is trapezoidal in shape.

Alternatively, the tubular body 10 has at least one inner recess 15 and at least one outer recess 13 aligned respectively with the at least one inner recess 15. Each connection tab 20 is formed by a pair of aligned inner recess 15 and outer recess 13.

The engagement assembly 40 is formed on the two longitudinal surfaces 31 on the tubular body 10 to connect the two longitudinal surfaces 31 of the tubular body 10 together. Preferably, the engagement assembly 40 comprises a male engagement element 41 and a female engagement element 43 formed respectively on the two longitudinal surfaces 31. The male engagement element 41 may be a block formed longitudinally on the corresponding longitudinal surface 31 and extends to the two ends of the tubular body 10. The female engagement element 43 may be a recess formed longitudinally in the corresponding longitudinal surface 31 and extends to the two ends of the tubular body 10. The configurations of the engagement elements 41,43 are not limited in the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 4, to clean the inner surface of the through hole 11, the male engagement element 41 and the female engagement element 43 are disengaged from each other, and the tubular body 10 can be expanded. Because each connection tab 20 has a thickness smaller than the thickness of the tubular body 10, the rebounding force caused by the thin connection tab 20 is small, such that the tubular body 10 can be expanded easily. In addition, with the smaller rebounding force, the tubular body 10 is easily kept at the expanded condition, such that to clean the straw is convenient.

With reference to FIG. 5, in a second embodiment, two connection tabs 20 are implemented on the tubular body 10 and are spaced from each other. Each connection tab 20 has a thickness smaller than the thickness of the tubular body 10. Two outer recesses 13 are formed in the tubular body 10 to form the two connection tabs 20 respectively. Alternatively, the two connection tabs 20 may be formed respectively by two inner recesses 15 or two pairs of aligned outer recess 13 and inner recess 15. Alternatively, one of the connection tabs 20 is formed by an outer recess 13, and the other connection tab 20 is formed by an inner recess 15.

With reference to FIG. 6, in the third embodiment, the through hole 11 is eccentrically formed in the tubular body 10, such that the tubular body 10 has a thickness gradually decreased from each longitudinal surface 31 to a position opposite the longitudinal surface 31. Accordingly, the connection tab 20 can be formed by the portion of the tubular body 10 that has the smallest thickness in cooperation with an outer recess 13, an inner recess 15, or a pair of aligned outer recess 13 and inner recess 15. In addition, two connection tabs 20 are implemented on the tubular body 10 in this embodiment. Each connection tab 20 may be formed by an outer recess 13, an inner recess 15, or a pair of aligned inner recess 15 and outer recess 13. Alternatively, one of the connection tabs 20 is formed by an outer recess 13, and the other connection tab 20 is formed by an inner recess 15.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A straw comprising: a tubular body having a thickness; a through hole defined through the tubular body and having two openings defined respectively in two ends of the tubular body; and a cutout formed longitudinally in the tubular body to form two longitudinal surfaces on the tubular body respectively at two sides of the cutout; at least one connection tab formed on the tubular body and extending longitudinally along the tubular body, and each one of the at least one connection tab having a thickness smaller than the thickness of the tubular body; and an engagement assembly formed on the two longitudinal surfaces on the tubular body to connect the two longitudinal surfaces of the tubular body together.
 2. The straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of the tubular body is gradually decreased to form the at least one connection tab.
 3. The straw as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular body further has at least one inner recess longitudinally defined in an inner surface of the tubular body to form the at least one connection tab.
 4. The straw as claimed in claim 3, wherein two connection tabs are formed on the tubular body and are spaced from each other.
 5. The straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular body further has at least one inner recess longitudinally defined in an inner surface of the through hole of the tubular body to form the at least one connection tab.
 6. The straw as claimed in claim 5, wherein two connection tabs are formed on the tubular body and are spaced from each other.
 7. The straw as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular body further has at least one outer recess longitudinally defined in an outer surface of the tubular body to form the at least one connection tab.
 8. The straw as claimed in claim 7, wherein two connection tabs are formed on the tubular body and are spaced from each other.
 9. The straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular body further has at least one outer recess longitudinally defined in an outer surface of the tubular body to form the at least one connection tab.
 10. The straw as claimed in claim 9, wherein two connection tabs are formed on the tubular body and are spaced from each other.
 11. The straw as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular body further has at least one inner recess longitudinally defined in an inner surface of the through hole of the tubular body; and at least one outer recess longitudinally defined in an outer surface the tubular body to form the at least one connection tab; and the at least one connection tab is formed by at least one of the at least one inner recess and the at least one outer recess.
 12. The straw as claimed in claim 11, wherein two connection tabs are formed on the tubular body and are spaced from each other; two inner recesses are formed in the tubular body; two outer recesses are formed in the tubular body and aligned respectively with the inner recesses to form the two connection tabs.
 13. The straw as claimed in claim 11, wherein two connection tabs are formed on the tubular body and are spaced from each other; one inner recess is formed in the tubular body; one outer recess is formed in the tubular body and aligned with the inner recess; and the two connection tabs are formed respectively by the inner recess and the outer recess.
 14. The straw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular body further has at least one inner recess longitudinally defined in an inner surface of the through hole of the tubular body; and at least one outer recess longitudinally defined in an outer surface the tubular body to form the at least one connection tab; and the at least one connection tab is formed by at least one of the at least one inner recess and the at least one outer recess respectively.
 15. The straw as claimed in claim 14, wherein two connection tabs are formed on the tubular body and are spaced from each other; two inner recesses are formed in the tubular body; two outer recesses are formed in the tubular body and aligned respectively with the inner recesses to form the two connection tabs.
 16. The straw as claimed in claim 14, wherein two connection tabs are formed on the tubular body and are spaced from each other; one inner recess is formed in the tubular body; one outer recess is formed in the tubular body and aligned with the inner recess; and the two connection tabs are formed respectively by the inner recess and the outer recess. 